Episode 823
Episode 823
Unaware that his junior was evaluating him at Yukveltire's level, Falkrius began his explanation with utmost seriousness.
His current scholarly demeanor was completely at odds with his usual self—the one who constantly nagged Kitchen Club members to move faster.
"That disease isn't an ordinary one. Look here."
Despite his bewilderment, Lee Han turned his gaze to the groaning, bedridden mage. 'This is peculiar.' While outwardly unremarkable, the magical energy emanating from the disease within the mage was continuously shifting, forming strange vortices.
As someone who could detect magical energy more acutely than any other mage present, Lee Han could perceive the flow's shape with unusual clarity.
"It is peculiar. Normally, curse-based diseases—no matter how severe—follow consistent patterns, but this one keeps changing."
"Pfft. Wardanaz. Truly a former student of every discipline. You've seen it correctly. That's precisely why it's troublesome."
The cursed disease currently residing within the mage was unlike ordinary afflictions—its magical energy kept mutating.
This made it difficult to analyze its flow or shape, let alone find a solution.
Unable to comprehend, Lee Han asked:
"Does such a disease even exist? I don't recall reading about it in any books."
"Of course not. That's because the mage brought this disease upon himself."
"Excuse me?"
"To be precise, it's a disease he created while experimenting on himself."
Falkrius handed over a document recording the testimony of a mage from the Water-Horse Mountains Magic Tower.
-Water-Horse Mountains Magic Tower Mage
-Composite Cursed Disease (Unidentifiable, Curse Fusion Mutation Phenomenon Occurring)
-The patient repeatedly layered curses upon his own flesh for curse-breaking research purposes...
Among the patients arriving at Einrogard, many were genuinely unfortunate victims of accidents—but surprisingly, a significant number were self-inflicted cases.
And of those self-inflicted cases, 99% could safely be assumed to be mages.
It wasn't easy to get injured in such bizarre ways that even one's surroundings couldn't resolve.
Usually, only those who kept injecting strange curses into their own bodies could achieve such feats.
"Uh, so... you're saying he kept putting curses into his own body?"
"Wardanaz. Don't look at the patient with those eyes."
Falkrius swiftly blocked Lee Han's path. His junior's gaze had grown far too icy.
"Shouldn't we prioritize treating the head rather than the curses for someone who keeps injecting curses into themselves... Wait. Is this person by any chance from the Black Magic discipline?"
"Huh? No, no. He's probably from Enchantment Magic. Since he's from the Water-Horse Mountains Magic Tower."
'Phew. What a relief.' Lee Han internally sighed in relief.
Had it been a Black Magic practitioner, the already rock-bottom reputation of their discipline would have plummeted further.
"If it's Enchantment Magic, then I understand. They're all a bit odd in the head."
"Wardanaz. The Enchantment Magic discipline at Einrogard is just... unique..."
Falkrius nearly added 'You're from Enchantment Magic too,' but stopped himself.
"Pfft. And this level isn't even exceptionally strange. Mages often do things like this."
"Senior, have you ever repeatedly injected curses into your body too?"
"Well, I did keep eating poisonous mushrooms once while searching for new reagents."
"Someone had to test them!"
Fearing his junior might genuinely consider quitting the Healing Magic discipline, Falkrius quickly clarified.
And truthfully, this wasn't exclusive to Healing Magic practitioners.
Magic inevitably involved experimentation during research—and the most readily available test subject was always the mage themselves.
At least they wouldn't sue themselves in imperial court!
The Water-Horse Mountains mage had sought to understand curse properties first—to create a powerful curse-breaking artifact.
Not just the characteristics of individual curses, but also how they behaved when fused together or when mutations occurred.
-Hmm. So this is how a blood clot curse works.
-What if we apply Parrakal's Gaze here? Should I tear up the spell scroll?
-Still holding up. Seems like the two aren't causing much fusion or mutation. Good. Then next... Cough!Hack!Gag!
"Are you all right!? Call a healing mage! Get a healing mage!"
'Seriously, I might just turn into an Anti-Magic Zealot at this rate.' Having heard the full explanation, Lee Han maintained his patience and asked,
"Then how do you treat that?"
"Well, since there are no prior cases, we'll have to experiment patiently and slowly. You'll probably be staying here all year. Pfft-hah."
"..."
"Did you just laugh, Senior?"
"I didn't."
Falkrius, excited at the thought of spending a whole year researching such a peculiar and fascinating disease, rubbed his hands together—each as large as a pot lid—but flinched at his junior's pointed remark.
Still, regardless of that, the patient would indeed have to stay for a long time.
Since there was no precise treatment, they'd have to try various methods and conduct research.
"What if we just force it out with raw power?"
"Pfft. Wardanaz. That might fly in Einrogard, but don't go saying things like that outside. You'll get labeled a mad mage."
A healing mage declaring they'd solve a disease by brute-forcing it with mana was akin to saying, 'Let's just drain all my blood and transfuse it into a patient bleeding to death!'
It was a solution, but it also sounded a bit like suicide.
"And in this patient's case, it won't work. If the curse had only lightly coated the soul, forcing it out might be possible. But since it's deeply embedded into the marrow, forcibly expelling it could cause severe damage to both mind and body. Since it's not an immediate emergency, the right approach is to wait and take our time."
If the soul were likened to a solid bead, this curse would be like dye painted onto its surface.
Someone like Lee Han, with his pure and vast mana reserves, could be compared to a raging waterfall.
Even sticky dye would eventually be washed away under such a torrent—but if the dye had been injected inside the bead, the situation changed.
To flush it out, you'd have to crack the bead open and shoot a stream of water inside. Naturally, the mage would likely suffer heavy damage in the process.
"Does that kind of situation really happen? How does a curse get inside the soul?"
"Easy. They opened their own soul and shoved it in."
"......"
Lee Han seriously considered whether mages' research permissions should be regulated by imperial law.
"Senior! The professor wants to see you for a moment! The patient keeps growing feet from their wrists!"
-"Brat. Where in the world did you even find a patient like this? You couldn't dig one up even if you scoured the entire ocean!"
-"Quiet, please! Falkrius! Hurry up!"
"Coming right away!"
Falkrius quickly replied, winking at Lee Han.
"If you want to experiment on that patient, go ahead. Wardanaz, I bet your fingers are already itching, aren't they?"
Lee Han recoiled at the senior's 'kindness' in generously sharing such excellent teaching material for his junior's improvement.
"Absolutely not..."
But Falkrius had already dashed off.
Lee Han shook his head vigorously.
"Hey...!"
At the voice from behind, Lee Han turned.
A middle-aged mage from the Water-Horse Mountains Magic Tower was staring at him with sharp eyes.
"Do you need something? Should I get you more pain-relief potions?"
"N-No. More importantly, earlier... how did you heal that curse so quickly?"
"I forced it out with mana."
"..."
"Don't spout nonsense."
After fifteen minutes of persuasion, Lee Han finally managed to convince the patient.
The Water-Horse Mountains mage, though convinced, was still horrified.
"How could you... Wait. What should I call you?"
"Call me Os."
"Ah. You must respect the Magic Tower, then."
"'Do you want to die?'
Lee Han wondered if this person had forgotten they were currently at Einrogard.
Otherwise, it would be hard to imagine someone making such reckless remarks.
"Alright. Os. I trust you. Then... do that for me too."
"Huh? No, I can't."
"..."
"Here. Take this."
The mage discreetly pulled out a pouch and placed it in Lee Han's hand.
When he opened it, small, shimmering pieces of Blue Jade were inside.
"This should do, right? I need to hurry back. I have to finish my research before summer comes."
"No... It's not that I'm struggling because of a lack of money. Pushing it away with magic doesn't cost anything."
The other party seemed to accept that Lee Han had repelled it with magic, but they clearly couldn't fathom that it was possible without any cost—just an innate ability.
Naturally, they assumed a price had to be paid and had offered a bribe.
"Then why won't you do it?"
"Because it's dangerous."
Lee Han relayed exactly what he had heard from Falkrius earlier.
Originally, an illness is like a coating on the soul's orb...
"It's fine."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. It's fine. I won't die, I won't die. So just do it for me."
'This is not fine at all.'
Lee Han thought the other person was very much like an Enchantment Magic specialist.
Even if told they'd die, they only said what they wanted to say—just like a certain beaver beastman professor.
"I've also studied some Illusion Magic, so I'll extract the spirit and remove the resistance. Then, with magic, I can just—"
"No. I can't."
"Please! You're an Einrogard student, aren't you? I'll put in a request under the name of the Water-Horse Mountains Magic Tower! I'll send sponsorship! How about an invitation? I'll arrange for you to go outside!"
The mage clung desperately to Lee Han's sleeve, pleading with such desperation that Lee Han felt slightly overwhelmed and asked,
"It's not about the benefits—it's dangerous. Wouldn't it be much safer to take time and treat it properly?"
"I told you, I have to finish the research before summer! Do you know Professor Verdus? Do you know what happens if you take a ton of investment money and fail to finish the research on time? You end up like Professor Verdus! Unable to even step outside Einrogard because of assassins! I don't want to end up like that!"
"......"
The other's desperate cry of not wanting to end up like Professor Verdus had a soul-shaking intensity.
After some hesitation, Lee Han decided he had to do something.
'Professor is busy, Lady Lagesa is busy too. Who else can I ask...?'
Lee Han glanced at his staff.
He wondered if it was too soon to call the Crazy Doppelganger again after their last conversation, but right now, there was only one archmage he could consult.
"Please wait here for a moment. Are you there?"
Silence.
Lee Han earnestly called for his master until a response came.
Then, a phantom emerged from the Echo Stone.
"What is it?"
"Greetings, Master. Your disciple humbly wishes to pay respects and—"
Given their last encounter and his precarious position, Lee Han's attitude was extremely deferential.
Perhaps the flattery pleased him, as the Crazy Doppelganger nodded and indulged him.
'It seems you've faintly grasped what it means to show proper respect as a disciple. Your future isn't entirely bleak. Good.'
"Haha. Thank you. But, Master, I have a question regarding magical training."
"Let me guess—5th Circle this time?"
"No, actually."
"......"
The Crazy Doppelganger frowned and glared at Lee Han.
He had told this disciple to focus on mastering 5th Circle magic, yet every time he was summoned, it felt like Lee Han was doing something completely unrelated.
Lee Han hastily defended himself.
"It's part of the process for the 5th Circle! All of this is foundational for me!"
"..."
"Fine. Speak."
Perhaps the flattery about paying respects had worked, as the Crazy Doppelganger skipped the insults and went straight to the point.
Lee Han earnestly explained the patient's condition.
"Is there a way to quickly treat such a patient?"
"Simple. I'll teach you a useful secret technique."
"Thank—!"
Lee Han, about to rejoice, froze.
"Wait—is this a 5th Circle spell or higher?"
"No. Classified by process, it's around 3rd Circle level."
'Thank goodness!'
By second-year standards, even a 3rd Circle spell wasn't exactly a relief, but Lee Han's magical standards were already quite warped. At this point, 3rd Circle felt easy.
"I'd be grateful if you taught me. What kind of spell is it?"
"This spell absorbs all of the target's Withering."
"..."
"Uh, so... I'd be the one suffering instead?""